Rise and Shine Takes International Rights to Ukrainian Documentary 'Women and War'
Rise and Shine World Sales has acquired international rights to Elwira Niewiera's documentary 'Women and War.' The film follows four Ukrainian women who survived war crimes as they undergo trauma therapy in the Ukrainian mountains over one year. It will have its world premiere in the Main Competition at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, running Nov. 12-22.
Rise and Shine World Sales now handles international rights for Elwira Niewiera’s documentary “Women and War.” The film centers on Olena, Yuliia, Iryna and Lena, four Ukrainian survivors of war crimes tied to Russia’s ongoing invasion. It observes them across a year as they receive long-term care from therapists and psychologists in a remote mountain setting in Ukraine.
The documentary is scheduled to make its world premiere in IDFA’s Main Competition. The Amsterdam festival runs Nov. 12–22.
The film’s acquisition and IDFA premiere may bring greater visibility to Ukrainian women’s wartime experiences and to trauma care. International distribution could allow audiences beyond Ukraine to engage with survivors’ stories, potentially shaping public understanding of war’s lasting effects. It may also support festival and sales interest in Ukrainian nonfiction cinema, though its direct social impact will depend on how widely the documentary is seen.